Is Ralph Hall Too Old?

[sonias]

Texas Tribune 1/11/10
Is Ralph Hall Too Old?
Before "I Love Lucy" the television show, there was Ralph Hall the politician.

That subtle jab was posted last month on a website promoting Steve Clark, a Dallas businessman eyeing Hall’s U.S. Congressional seat. Hall began his public service in 1950 as Rockwall County Judge, during Harry Truman's administration, and then served as a Texas State Senator from 1962 to 1972. He went to the U.S. House in the same 1980 election that put Ronald Reagan in the White House and has held the post for three decades — a couple too many, according to his challengers.

(snip)

His seven challengers — five Republicans, a Democrat, and a Libertarian — think the incumbent, who turns 87 in May, should step down from representing Texas’ 4th Congressional district due, in part, to his advanced age.

"It is a factor and my (89-year-old) mother is the first one to say he’s too old, even if he is in good health and spirits," said Sulphur Springs tax attorney Valinda Hathcox, the lone Democrat in the race.

I have more of a problem with his senility than his age. Robert Byrd is far more aware and productive at his age than Hall is. Hall been a piece of Congressional furniture for at least a decade.

A couple of the Rs running against him proudly align themselves with the teabaggers. It should prove interesting in the R primary.:eyes:

Sonia

[Nancy Boy]

1. ...

Is his seat up for election this year? And there's a Democrat running against him?

[sonias]

2. Yes and yes

All U.S. Congressional House seats are up every two years. All U.S. Congressmen/women are all up for election/re-election. It's only the Senate side that has staggered 6 year terms for the Senators. If Kay Bailey really gives up her seat after the election, Texas will hold a special election for her seat.

The lone Democrat running against Ralph Hall is Valinda Hathcox. It's a tough district for a Democrat to win, so bless her for filing and running against Hall.

Welcome to the Texas DU forum Nancy Boy.

:hi:

Sonia

[Nancy Boy]

3. Thanks!

Didn't she run last time? I really hope she can bring it. It always seems like Hall is running by himself, unless you really wanted to find out.

[sonias]

4. He has a full slate of challengers

It's possible he'll get canned this election season. We'll see if the anti-incumbent sentiment is strong in his district.


Just realized that there is another Hall in the mix - Jerry Ray Hall. I wonder if he gets "bonus" points for confusing people in the primary race! :rofl:

From the Texas Tribune 2010 Election Database:
District 4

* Hathcox, VaLinda (D)
* Hall, Ralph (R) *
* Clark, Steve (R)
* Cooper, John (R)
* Gigliotti, Lou (R)
* Hall, Jerry Ray (R)
* Kowert, Joshua (R)
* Prindle, Jim D. (L)

Valinda has run before in this district before.

Election Info from same Texas Tribune database

VaLinda Hathcox
U.S. House District 4, 2008 Democratic Party Primary Election
Lost with 42.60% of vote

Sonia

[Downwinder]

6. Didn't Jerry Hall run about six years ago?

[Downwinder]

5. Can he get around without someone to guide him?

Every time I've seen him in the last five years he has had to have a guide. Course when they see me they go in the opposite direction.

[sonias]

7. Guide - what kind of guide?

Do you mean one of his staffers or a real guide for assistance?

Sonia

[Downwinder]

8. Staffers or Party. I think they are real guides.

I have heard people question whether he knows where he is. I am not allowed close enough to tell since he switched parties.

[sonias]

9. He would drill his Granddaddy's grave to find more fuel

Here's an old YouTube ad from the 2008 campaign by his then opponent Glen Melancon.

Fossil Fuel For a Fossilized Fool

He is so behind the times.

Sonia

[Downwinder]

10. I think Jerry ran against him six or eight years ago. At the time

he had some information about Ralph's relationship with Rockwell International.

When my case was going through the Courts we went down to see him. At the time they were reworking the Copyright Law in Ralph's committee. We felt there should be a statement in the Act that the Law should not be eligible for Copyright protection. That didn't go anywhere. That's OK we got it in Case Law.

[sonias]

11. Your case sounds interesting

Glad you found and end around Ralph Hall. It's never surprising to me that so many of them don't think they really work for the constituents they represent - you know the voters. A lot of them feel they work for the people who give them donations. sigh

Sonia